Canceling and stamping device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1v (No Model.)

I. T. BAILEY. GANGELING AND STAMPING DEVICE. No. 555,357. Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

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F. T. BAILEY. GANGELING AND snusmm;r DEVICE.

(No Model.)

No. 555,357. Patented Feb, 25, 1896.

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ANDREW a BRANAMPHQTcI-LIIHO WASHINGIOILDC Nirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC T. BAILEY, OF NORTH SCITUATE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CANCELING AND STAMPING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,357, dated February 25, 1896.

Application filed July 15, 1895.

T0 (6 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC T. BAILEY, of North Scituate, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Canceling and Stamping Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like pa-rts.

The present invention relates to canceling and printing devices and is embodied in an apparatus which is especially adapted for postmarking mail matter and canceling stamps thereon.

The apparatus embodying my invention is intended mainly for use in small offices where the volume of business is not sufficiently great to warrant the installment of large powerdriven stamping and canceling machines, such as are commonly employed in city oflices, but where it is nevertheless desirable to supercede the old hand canceling postmarking stamps in order to give more perfect postmarking and to facilitate the handling of the mail matter which passes through the office.

The machine embodying the invention comprises a movable carrier for the stamp or die, said carrier being analogous to the bed of a printing-press, and which for convenience will be hereinafter so called, a platen orsupport for the article to be printed,and an inkingpad for the printing-surface, the bed being provided with actuating means whereby it is alternately brought in contact with the inking-pad and with the surface to be marked or printed on.

As herein shown the machine is adapted to be operated by foot-power, and an actuating device of novel construction and operation is herein shown and forms a part of the invention, the said actuating device being arranged to operate by a swinging movement of the foot in conjunction with a suitable treadle in such a manner that a complete movement of the foot from one extreme position of the treadle to the other and back tothe former will re sultin two operations of the stamping device; or, in other words, so that a movement of the pedal in either direction from its central or normal position will cause an operation of the device.

The printing-bed is provided with a die sup- Serial No. 555,962. (No model.)

ported above the platen and actuated by a lever or levers pivotally connected thereto, it being provided with guides, so that when it is moved by the levers the printing-surface will be carried from the plane of the inking-pad to that of the platen.

The inking-pad itself is movable and so arranged that as the printing surface approaches the position in which it is to be inked the pad moves forward to meet it and afterward recedes toa position in which it is out of the way during the operation of printing. As herein shown, this feature also forming part of the invention, the said pad has a cylindrical surface and is mounted to rotate 011 the axis of the said cylindrical surface, the guides for the printing-bed being so arranged that the surface thereof moves on an are after it comes in contact with the pad, so that the said surface and the pad engage each other with a rolling contact similar to that of the type-surface and inking-roller of a print ing-press, which results not only in a better inking of the printing-surface, but also in the rotation of the pad, so that the same portion of the latter is not engaged by the typesurface at any two successive movements thereof.

The platen is arranged with a device whereby it may be readily lowered from its normal position when for any reason it is desired to remove the stamp or die from the bed, or when, as is sometimes the case, an exceptionally thick package is to be stamped, thus requiring a lowering of the platen in order to bring the surface of the article to be printed to the proper plane for engagement with the type-surface.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine embodying the present invention with a portion of the main frame broken away to show the actuating means and showing the printing-bed in its normal position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation, one side of the frame excluded, showing in full and dotted lines respectively the two extreme positions of the die and actuating mechanism therefor.

The main frame A of the machine is mounted on standards A and is provided at the top with overhanging arms A between which are supported the printing-bed a, which constitutes the movable impression member of the machine, the inking-pad b, and the actuatinglevers c therefor, the latter being fulcrumed on a shaft 0 extending transversely from one of said arms A to the other. Underneath the said arms A is a platen (Z which consists of a shelf or support sufficiently large for the convenient handling of the matter to be printed, the said shelf being secured to a standard 61 having a stem (1 longitudinally movable in a a guide-supporting portion A of the main frame, means being provided for lowering said platen, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The printing-surface or die a which may be secured to the bed a in any suitable way, as by the stem adapted to enter an opening a (shown in Fig. 2,) normally stands, as shown in Fig. 1, with its type-face in contact with the inking-pad b, so that as the levers c are rocked on their fulcrum 0 the ends thereof which are pivotally connected at c with the bed a, will move the bed and the printing-surface downward with relation to the inkingpad, the said movement being directed by the guide-slot a formed in a projection from the said bed and adapted to co-operate with a guide, such as a roller, or as shown herein the pin a" secured, as by nuts a, to the arms A of the frame, so as to extend transversely from one of said arms to the other, as shown. Thus as the lever c is rocked its outer end or pivot portion 0 will move downward toward the platen d, carrying with it the bed a, the relation of the pivot c with the guide-pin a being such that the bed turns about the latter as anaXis to a position in which the surface thereof is substantially parallel to the platen, so that an article supported on said platen will be printed thereby at the end of said downward movement of the lever.

In order that the inking-pad may be withdrawn from the printing-surface when the latter is carried to its printing position, the said pad is supported in guide-slots c in the levers c and provided with projections b engaging cam-surfaces 11 formed in the main frame, so that as said lever is moved the inking-pad is carried downward thereby into engagement with the said cam-surfaces, thus moving the pad I) away from the printingbed a, so that it will not interfere with the subsequent operation thereof.

As herein shown, the printing-surface is positively actuated by the cam b in one direction only, being provided with a spring 19* to cause its movement in the opposite direction.

The inking-pad may obviously be of any well-known substance and constructed in any suitable way, it being shown herein as consistin g of a cylinder having an inking-surface, the said cylinder being mounted to rotate on a suitable spindle, the ends of said spindle forming the projections which engage with the cam 19 To properly co-operate with the said cylindrical inking-surface the bed a is so arranged that the printing-surface carried thereby moves on the arc of a circle after it comes in contact with the inking-pad, so that a rolling contact is afforded, this being accomplished by properly shaping the cam-groove a which, as shown, is curved at its inner end so that the desired rocking movement of the bed is provided for when it approaches its upper or inking position, the other end of said guide-slot, however, being,as shown, straight, so that the final movement of the printingsurface to its printing position is substantially straight, as is necessary to obtain a proper impression. As the end 0 of the lever therefore rises from its lower position to the position shown in Fig. 1, it carries with it the inking-pad b, which also moves forward, owing to the impulse of the spring 72*, along the camsurface b the said cam-surface being so arranged that the inking-pad will meet the upper portion of the printing-surface a so that the latter in its further movement will pass with a rolling contact over the surface of the pad I), thus becoming thoroughly inked and at the same time giving a rotating impulse to the pad as it passes over the surface thereof, so that at a subsequent operation a different portion of the surface thereof will come in contact with the type-surface.

The leverc may be actuated in any suitable way, a novel device, however, for this purpose being shown herein and forming part of the present invention, the said device comprising an actuating member having an oscillatin g movement preferably imparted thereto by a swinging pedal-lever, and a connecting member engaged and moved by said actuating member at each movement thereof from its normal position or center of oscillation, and itself connected to the lever c to produce the desired operation thereof. In accordance with the construction shown one end of the said lever c is pivotally connected at c to the connecting member or upright 0 the lower end of which engages with the actuating member consisting of the rocker 0 preferably having a curved uppersurface, as shown, and being pivoted at c in the rear portion of the frame A. As the said actuating member a is oscillated or rocked on its pivot the opposite ends thereof will alternately operate as levers to lift the upright 0 thus rocking the lever c as is desired. In order to prevent the displacement of the upright c with relation to the rocker c", the two members are provided with an intermeshing connection, the former being provided, as herein shown, with recesses a engaging with projections 0 upon the latter, and the two are connected by a spring 0 attached at one end to the end of the lever c and at the other to the actuating member, the point of connection being preferably in line with the connecting member, but removed from the center of oscillation of the actuating member, so that the tendency of the spring is to keep the two members in their normal position, in which the printingsurface is in contact with the inking-pad and removed from the platen, which is thus ready to have an article to be printed fed thereto. The actuating member or rocker c is connected at one end by a link 0 to an arm 0 of a swinging pedal 0 pivoted in a lug or projection A at the front of the frame. To operate the machine, therefore, the operator places his foot upon the stirrup or treadsurface 0 and by a swinging movement thereof causes the rocker c to rock first in one direction and then in the other, each of such movements resulting in an up-anddown movement of the lever c, constituting a complete operation of the device.

In order to lower the platen (Z when it is desired to do so, the said platen is pivotally connected by a link (Z to an arm d which is pivoted at d, the same pivot preferably serving for both the said arm and treadle. Thus by pulling the arm (Z forward, a suitable handle being provided for the purpose, to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, the platen will be lowered so that the die can be readily removed from the printing-bed as desired; while if, as is sometimes the case, an un usually thick package is to be postmarked, the operator can, bymanipulating the handle, adjust the platen to the desired position. The said platen is supported in its lowermost position by the end of the stem d resting upon the bottom of the guide-socket A while in its upper position it is supported by the arm (1, the link being so connected thereto that a downward pressure thereon tends to turn the said arm toward the frame, against which its upper end impinges.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific construction herein shown, since obvious modifications might be made therein; nor is it intended to limit the invention solely to a machine for canceling and postmarking, since the novel features herein shown may obviously be used to advantage in other connections.

I claim- 1. In a printing or stamping machine, the combination with a movable printing-bed, of a lever pivotally connected thereto for moving the same from an inking-pad to a platen, a guide for the said bed, an inking-pad carried by said lever and movable with relation thereto, and a device for moving said pad during the operation of the lever, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the movable bed and actuating-lever therefor, of an inkingpad having a cylindrical surface and mounted in guides in said lever so as to be free to rotate on its axis, and a guide for the bed whereby the printing-surface carried by said bed is caused to have a rolling contact with the said pad, as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination with a swinging operating-lever, of a printing-bed pivotally connected thereto; a guide for the said bed whereby the said bed is turned on its pivot during the movement of the lever; an inkingpad carried by said lever and longitudinally movable with relation thereto and adapted to come in contact with the face of the printingbed in one position of the lever, and a cam engaging said pad to move the same away from the surface of the printing-bed during the movement of the lever, substantially as described.

at. In a printing or stamping machine, the combination with a movable printing-bed; of an operating-lever pivotally connected thereto and a guide for the said bed; an inkingpad carried by said lever and movable with relation thereto; means for moving said pad during the movement of the lever; an actuating member for the lever having an oscillating movement; and a connecting member pivotally connected at one end to said lever and engaging at its opposite end with the said actuating member,substantially as described.

5. In a printing or stamping machine, the combination with a movable printing-bed, of a lever pivotally connected thereto for moving the same from an inking-pad to a platen, a guide for the said bed, an inking-pad carried by said lever and movable with relation thereto, a device for moving said pad during the operation of the lever, and means for raising and lowering said platen, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the main frame and platen supported thereby, of two overhanging arms or projections having a guidepin extending from one to the other directly over the platen; a printing-bed having a guide-slot co-operating transversely with said guide-pin; levers mounted on a pivot extending transversely from one of said projections to the other, said lever being pivotally connected to the said bed; longitudinal guideslots in said levers; an inking-pad movably supported in said guide-slots; and means for moving said inking-pad with relation to the lever when said lever is actuated, as and for the purpose described.

7. In a printing or stamping machine, the combination with an operating-lever for the printing -bed, of an actuating member for said lever consisting of a pivotally-supported rocker, a connecting member pivotally connected at one end to said lever and having its opposite end provided with an engaging surface co-operating with a corresponding engaging surface on the said actuating member; and a swinging pedal-lever connected with said actuating member to produce an oscillating movement thereof, substantially as described.

8. In a printing or stamping machine, the combination with the movable impression member, of the actuating mechanism comprising an oscillating rocker having engaging portions at both sides of its axis of oscillation, a connecting member provided at one end with a bearing-surface co-operating with said engaging portions and at its other end with a pivotal joint connected with said movable impression member, the engaging surfaces of said rocker and connecting member having a rolling engagement and being provided with projections and recesses to prevent relative sliding movement, and means for oscillating said rocker in both directions, whereby an impression is made by the oscillation in either direction, substantially as described.

9. In a printing or stamping machine, the combination with an operating-lever for a printing-bed, of an actuating member con sisting' of a rocker pivotally connected to the frame of the machine, a connecting member pivotally connected at one end to said lever and provided at its opposite end with an engaging surface co-operating with the surface of said actuating member, and a spring connection between said actuating and connecting members, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a printing or stamping machine, the combination with a lever for operating the printing-bed, of an actuating member consisting of a rocker pivotally connected to the frame of the machine, a connecting member pivotally connected at one end to said lever and provided at its opposite end with an engaging surface co-operating with the surface of said rocker, a spring connected at one end to said actuating-lever and at the opposite end to said rocker at a point normally in line with said connecting member but removed from the center of oscillation of said rocker, and means for oscillating-said rocker, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERIC T. BAILEY.

'Witnesses:

H. J. Lrvnnnonn, M. E. HILL. 

